'1356'
Chapter 1: 'The Sword Sisters'
Equestria in the Middle Ages was a growing superpower in both magic and military strength. Ruled by Princess Celestia, there seemed to be no power of magic or brute force that could match Equestria's might. In the Northwestern Territories, discontent was brewing in the villages and cider halls as a new power was just beginning to rise up: 'Chefal'.
The land known as 'Chefal' is the homeland to a unique non-pony species, the 'Mountain Hippogriff'. A different species from their Seaquestrian counterparts, these Hippogriffs are more griffon-like in appearance and have wing-shaped ears. Their griffon neighbors to the east know them as 'Classical Hippogriffs' and often export iron to the Griffonlands.
As the 'Mountain Hippogriffs' began to rise up in rebellion as the 'Tax Act' was enacted on 'subjects of non-pony species' by Princess Celestia, that meant that the Griffons and Hippogriffs had to pay higher taxes than the Ponies, and the Hippogriffs of Queen Novo are exempted from that tax and pay the normal tax that the Ponies do. It has now begun
Mountain Hippogriffs and Griffons began to gather in the Northern Mountains of Chefal, or 'Les Montagnes de Fer' where they will forge weapons and train ordinary the citizens-griffs into soldiers. This 'Tax Act' prompted one Hippogriff Knight to kill the hated Pony treasurer known by the Mountain Hippogriffs and Griffons as 'Golden Mane the Bit-Biter'.
Meet the Mountain Hippogriff that took the flayed light brown pelt off the Pony's back, and had it fashioned into a sword belt: 'Wilhelmina De Faucon'. A widowed bride on the day of wedding when her groom-to-be was executed, she wore chainmail and plate armor in place of her wedding dress. And with her longsword 'Talon', she is a formidable warrior.
"Good to see you, Genève," said Wilhelmina, smiling warmly
"Same to you, 'Big Billie'," said Genève, grinning to her best friend
The griffon with white fur and grey beak is Genève Van De Falk. A blacksmith by trade, she forged Wilhelmina's sword as a gift. A longsword with an overall length of 42.75in with a 33.375in and 1.56in wide double-edged blade with a 7in wide guard, a 9.38in grip and a wheel pommel, Genève made an exact twin sword for herself for battle named 'Fang'
The combined forces of the 'Mountain Hippogriffs' and 'Griffonstone Griffons' met on a rocky mount in the Griffon Kingdom highlands called 'The Roost'. The armies of knights and soldiers cheered as the best friends embraced as sisters-in-arms, and raised their weapons in pride. Some rumors circulated that these two are lovers, not that it mattered.
Their full and mature flanks gently wiggled and their tails wagged as they embraced. Their full steel plate armor with surcoats clinked and rattled as they placed taloned paws on their shoulders as a sign of their sisterhood to the ways of chivalry and way of the sword. Wilhelmina can see in Genève's honey-colored eyes the same fire is in her brown eyes
"This is our time to rise," said Genève, their army was a mix of young and eager soldier-griffs as well as veterans that have seen their fair share of the battlefield. The banners of the two kingdoms were a blue flag with a pouncing golden hippogriff while the Griffon Kingdom has a white top and green bottom with a black pouncing griffon in the center
Soldiers wear a kettle helm and chainmail coif. They wear brigandine over a tunic-length chainmail hauberk, plate armor on the legs and paws, and a heater shield. A broadsword is plain looking, but high quality at 39in long with a 33in long by 2in wide blade and a 7in wide guard. They are also armed with spears, flanged maces, poleaxes, and battle axes
"Look! It's our flyers" said Wilhelmina seeing their two scouts
"Well? What news?" Genève asked the two tired griffon-soldiers catching their breath
"The Ponies are amassing at Hawksbill," said one named Georgia
"The nobles won't commit to battle, but the South-Birds and North-Birds are coming in the hundreds...and thousands" said Galena, the Ponies had been making their presence known in the Northlands with their castles and the fortifying of Griffon and Mountain Hippogriff villages that they annex with wooden palisades. Now it's time to meet the enemy
The North Regions of the Chefalien and the Griffonlands harvest timber. The South Regions of Chefal produce cork for the famous cider. A few types of axe hail from the regions. 'The Four Lugged Chopping Axe' and the 'Talabot Axe' come from the North. The 'Cork Harvesting Axe' and 'Aquilian Axe' come from the South. They are all improvised weapons
"To war!" Genève and Wilhelmina cried out to their army of soldier-griffs and knights. They roared, raising their weapons proudly and ready to fight. Griffon and hippogriff knights are trained from the time they are hatchlings. They wear chainmail, full steel plate armor, and heater shields. Their surcoats were emblazoned with their family coat-of-arms
Knights are armed with a lance, sword, mace, or an axe. The Griffons and Mountain Hippogriffs perfected the axe. A single handed axe is simple and effective with a 28in long haft, a 7.5in blade length, and weighing in at 2.42lbs. A two-handed axe is the reliable beast for soldier-griffs at over 4lbs with a 3ft and 4.94in haft and an 8.66in blade length.
The spear and lance are popular among soldier-griffs and Griffon and Hippogriff knights as they are simple and effective. The spear is over 2m long with an 11.8in by 1.97in steel head and a 7.5in socket. The lance has the same head as a spear, and a hardwood shaft of 3m long. The armies are on the march. Their war banners flying in the spring breeze